Emergent Literacy

Storytimes for Toddlers and Babies include elements which encourage the development of skills associated with emergent literacy, the period between birth and the time when children can read and write, including

· Vocabulary – knowing the names of things

· Print awareness and motivation – learning basic rules of written language and showing an interest in and enjoyment of books

· Writing – making a variety of marks, lines, circles, scribbles, letters

· Phonemics – being able to hear and manipulate the smaller sounds in words.[i]

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[i] Diamant-Cohen, Mother Goose On the Loose, 3.